Melbourne's new venue could deny Sydney a Test.
2010 ... Melbourne's new venue could deny Sydney a Test. Channel 7
Sydney set to host just one Kangaroos game in 2010, Melbourne to have two
By Josh Massoud
November 19, 2009 Dwindling crowd numbers in Sydney and the development of Melbourne's new rectangular stadium could see the Harbour City snubbed for the showpiece Kangaroos Tests next season.
While Sydney is yet to secure one of possibly five internationals that will feature Australia, Melbourne is guaranteed to host the showpiece games against heavyweights New Zealand and England.
For the first time in rugby league's 102-year history, Melbourne appears certain to eclipse Sydney on the international stage after they were given both the Anzac Test and Four Nations preliminary tie against England.
The surprise schedule comes as New South Wales politicans are in a dogfight with their Queensland opposites to retain the NRL Grand Final beyond 2012 and puts a futher dent in Sydney's crumbling claim as the home of rugby league.
Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium is at unbackable odds to host the Four Nations final, which would leave Sydneysiders stranded with the poor cousin of next year's international calendar - the Kangaroos versus Papua New Guinea preliminary game.
But it's also understood that Canberra has also shown interest in the Kumuls match which, if awarded to the ACT, would make Sydney a Test-free zone for the third time in the past four seasons.
ARL boss Geoff Carr confirmed venue allocations were close to being finalised, and pointed to increasingly lacklustre turnouts as a major reason why Sydney is not yet guaranteed a game.
Last year's World Cup semi-final drew less than 20,000 people to the Sydney Football Stadium, which also failed to sell out for the opening ceremony.
Conversely, Brisbane has consistently attracted near sellout crowds to internationals since the re-opening of Suncorp in 2003.
Melbourne fans also responded with their feet to last year's World Cup clash against England, which drew more than 30,000 people.
Carr said the redeveloped $100 million Olympic Park Stadium was behind Melbourne's push for a second game, with the venue's official opening to coincide with the Anzac Test in May.
The Four Nations clash against England will be held on the Sunday before the Melbourne Cup to feed off the city's sporting carnival.
He added Sydney's best hope of hosting a Test against strong opposition was if Auckland is unavailable for the series opener.
A telephone hook-up between ARL and NZRL officials on Thursday will determine its availability.
League historian David Middleton said Sydney had never been left without a Test in seasons where the Kangaroos played at least two games Down Under.
"It would definitely be the first time that Melbourne would host more rugby league Test matches than Sydney," Middleton said.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018868,00.html
